Relaxing Temple Stay with Shojin Ryori & Meditation at Anrakuji
- Exclusive private stay at Anrakuji Temple in a Japanese-style room
- Cook and enjoy shojin ryori for lunch
- Experience Shabutsu or Shakyo with light meditation
What to expect
Relax in the beautiful tatami-room temple lodging of Anrakuji Temple, reserved for one group only, allowing you to enjoy a quiet and private stay. For lunch, take part in a hands-on shojin ryori (traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) cooking experience, guided by the temple caretaker, the wife of a Buddhist priest. After preparing authentic dishes yourself, enjoy the meal at a relaxed pace. In the afternoon, choose Shabutsu (Buddhist image tracing) or Shakyo (sutra copying), beginning with a short meditation to calm the mind. Finished Shabutsu works are stamped with the temple seal, framed, and taken home, while Shakyo can be offered to the temple with a personal prayer. (A ritual offering fee of JPY 1,000 applies.) End the experience with traditional shojin sweets
Good to know
① Check-in：10 minutes Leave your luggage in the shukubo (lodging) room and receive an explanation of the plan details and confirm any schedule arrangements you may desire. ② Shojin Ryori Cooking Experience：30–40 minutes Hands-on cooking of Shojin Ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) in the Kyakuden (Guest Hall) kitchen. ③ Lunch：40 minutes Enjoy your Shojin Ryori lunch in the private shukubo space. ④ Meditation Experience (Zazen)：20 minutes ⑤ Shabutsu (Tracing Buddhist Images) ：1 – 1.5 hours Held in the Hondo (Main Hall) or Kyakuden (Guest Hall).
- Explanation of the Buddhist image to be traced.
- Instructions on how to trace and tips for writing.
- Applying Zukō (aromatic powder) to the hands.
- Begin the Shabutsu session.
- Upon completion, the chief priest will stamp the red seal (Shuin) and add the date.
- Framing the finished work. ⑥ Shojin Sweets Tasting：15 minutes ⑦ Free Time Spend the rest of your time relaxing in the shukubo space or exploring the temple grounds.
・Vege-Sushi (Vegan-friendly sushi) ・Traditional Japanese set meals ・Vegetarian curry
We will determine and announce the menu based on locally harvested vegetables and other ingredients available during the event period.
※Please inform us in advance if you have any food allergies.